My First
Experience
It was started with #HowNotToBeBoring project. In
early January this year I had written my contemplation for 2014 and was about
to write what’s next for 2015. I was pretty bored at that time. I was not as
excited as previous years because dreams had been achieved. I needed
something new to keep me going. That was why I came up with #HowNotToBeBoring
project. I made this project to challenge myself to experience something new;
something that I’ve never done before. I didn’t want to get bored and I didn’t
want to be a boring person. As the starter, I wrote a two-page list of things I
want to do. “Watching JKT48 Live in
Theatre” was on the first page.
I have known JKT48 since two or three years ago but
never have I thought that I would want to watch their live performance. JKT48
is the sister group of AKB48; an idol group which is based in Akihabara, Japan.
Their genre is J-pop while I was more into K-pop in this recent year. I was
basically not interested in J-pop or JKT48 in particular until I watched a talk
show in national TV which reveals the phenomenon of JKT48 as idol group.
JKT48 is phenomenal in my country. It’s the only idol
group which has graduation system for its members. Graduate members would be
replaced by new members from newer generations. Their fans (usually called wota) are loyal and the hard-core wota will do almost anything to get
closer to their favourite member (or better known as oshimen). Handshake Festival is the perfect example to show it. In
this event, wota can do the 10-seconds handshake with JKT48 members. To
join this event, wota must buy CD
which includes handshake ticket. The price for 1 CD is Rp40.000 (almost 4USD).
Some wota go far to the extent that
they would buy 50-100 CDs only to get the handshake tickets. What about the
CDs? I know some of them would give it free to people. I mean, what is the
point to keep all those same CDs?
Anyway, that makes me more eager to know about JKT48.
What is so special about them? I thought watching their live performance would answer my question.
JKT48 have regular live performance (almost) every
day at their theatre at fX Mall, Jakarta. They are divided into three teams:
Team J, Team K3, and Team T and each has their own stage songs. Almost all
members of Team J are from first generation and they are the most popular ones.
Melody and Nabilah are two members that are considered as the face of JKT48 for
non-wota audiences.
To buy the ticket, I had to register myself in JKT48
official website. Since I had no clue about Team K3 and Team T, I applied to
watch Team J for their show on 27 January. JKT48 have lottery ticket system so
that you cannot watch their performances whenever you feel like to. You must
win the ticket first and in the busiest show, your chance to win is smaller.
On 26 January, I got email from JKT48 Operation Team
(JOT) informing me that I won the ticket. The next day, I went to fX Mall at
around 5 pm to get the ticket. The ticket price is Rp100.000 (9USD), but it’s
half the price for students and female audiences.
Like what I expected, most of audiences were males. I
only saw few female; mostly teenagers or at least younger than me. Suddenly I
felt old ><
The setlist for that day was Dareka no Tame ni (What Can I do for Someone?). I got green ticket
(for students and female audiences; blue ticket for general) with bingo number
6. The show would start at 7 pm but at 6.40, the audiences would make several
lines based on their bingo number. There was a staff who would arrange the
lines. He was also the one who would announce bingo number randomly which would
decide whether someone went in first or later. Bingo number 6 was called after
some time. I was happy that it was not the last to call or I couldn’t get any
seat.
The show was started with announcement from a member.
It was about basic things e.g. it’s not allowed to take pictures or record
videos, no food and drink allowed during the show etc. The announcement was
then followed by Overture. Most wota had
light-stick with them and their chant made the atmosphere more exciting.
Tsukimisou (Evening Primrose) was the first song in that setlist. To my
surprise I enjoyed it. The music made me feel like I was in Japan. I think I
got a nice impression for my first visit.
Yosha!
Yosha!
Yosha!
There were about 15 members on the stage. Their age
range is from 15 to early 20. I didn’t know all their names, but I realised
some stand-out members like Melody, Veranda, and Haruka were not performing
that day.
After several songs, the members introduced
themselves with their own catch-phrase (e.g. Sweet and always discipline, I’m Shania). Then, there was MC
session in which members had to answer one certain question, like “What would
you do if you get lost in a foreign country and you can’t speak its language?”
Another songs and another MC session would follow
later. Members would change their Japanese style-seifuku (outfits) several times. Eventhough it said ‘LIVE’, most
songs (or all?) were actually lip synced. I didn’t see it’s a problem for wota. Somehow I could hear they would
say something like, “The members do dance.
It’s not easy to dance and sing,
y’know?”
From all the songs, my least favourite was Seifuku ga Jama wo suru (This Outfit is
Annoying). I think the lyrics and the dance are too ‘mature’ for teenage members.
Maybe it’s okay in Japan, but here in Indonesia, I don’t think it’s warmly
welcomed.
However, in general I could enjoy the show. Moreover,
Team J sang my favourite song – Aitakatta!
Maybe I would enjoy it more IF the music was not TOO loud. After the show
ended, there was high-touch session with members. Since I was not a fan, I felt
a bit awkward. I still couldn’t understand why wota could be very loyal to JKT48.
Back to #HowNotToBeBoring project. I crossed “Watching JKT48 Live in Theatre” on the
list. Well, I thought it was gonna be my first and last show. I’ve never
thought that it was then followed by more shows to watch.
More JKT48
Shows to Watch
After watching JKT48 live performance in theatre on
27 January, I wanted to watch another show only to see Melody, Veranda, and
Haruka perform. I didn’t have a chance to watch their performance in the
previous show I attended. Even so, after that first show I felt like seeing
JKT48 everywhere. I applied for a show on February and I won the ticket for the
show on 22 February.
It was still from Team J but the setlist was changed
from Dareka no Tame ni (What Can I do
for Someone?) to Boku no Taiyou (My Sunshine). I missed yosha! yosha!
Overall I liked this setlist better than the
previous. I enjoyed Himawari (Sunflowers)
most and was amazed with furi-copy from
wota during that song.
I didn’t know what spells they had but suddenly I
became a regular to watch Yokoso programme on ANTV and iClub on NET. Both were
special programme on national TV for JKT48. I bought their DVD from which I
knew more members from another team. Team K3 was so captivating in that DVD
that I decided to watch their show on 3 March with Seishun Girls (Teenage Girls) as their setlist.
My first time watching Team K3 was disappointing. Their
songs were okay but their MC skills were way below Team J’s. At that time I
thought they were on different level with Team J. Team K3 were trying too hard
to make people laugh it turned out not funny. I promised myself that I wouldn’t
watch Team K3 performance anymore.
When I knew Team J would have another performance for
Dareka no Tame ni (What Can I do for
Someone?), without thinking too much I applied for the show. I wanted to
see Tsukimisou
(Evening Primrose) were sung by full team. I won the lottery again.
For me, that was the best show so far from Team J.
Their dances and their MC skills were cool. In that show, I finally knew why
Melody was the (eternal) centre of JKT48. She was outstanding compared to other
members. In high-touch session, I told her that she was awesome.
I had quite an experience after watching this show
but I would save it for later.
I bought another DVD of JKT48 so I knew more songs.
Some new songs easily became my favourite, including Hissatsu Teleport, Wasshoi J!, and Shiroi Shirts. These songs were
from Pajama Drive setlist. I was terrific when this old setlist was performed
again; now by Team K3.
I watched Pajama Drive setlist on 31 March. That day
I wore black-and-white chequered shirt to show my support for Shinta Naomi in senbatsu sousenkyo (general election). She wore the-almost-same shirt in her
campaign video. I could see in theatre some people also wore black-and-white
chequered shirt which I suspected as Naomi-oshi.
Too bad I could only enjoy the show less than 30 minutes. I got
stomach-ache that I had to leave the theatre early.
Still curious, on 9 April I watched Pajama Drive
again. I really enjoyed the show and I thought Team K3’s MC skills were better
that I applied for another show on 29 April. For a moment I forgot about Team
J.
I felt something different with Team K3. Team J are
full of blinding stars but Team K3 are modest with their comforting dim light.
Most members from Team K3 are from second generation. People would always
compare them with their older sisters Team J and with their younger sisters
Team T.
In my opinion, Team K3’s bonding with the audiences is
also stronger compared to Team J. I couldn’t say much about Team T since I’ve
never watched their show. But the fact showed that most MVP (it is a term for audience who attended the
shows for 100x, 200x, or 300x) celebrated their day with Team K3.
Only a month after I promised myself that I wouldn’t
watch Team K3’s show, I decided to change my support from Team J to Team K3.
Team K3 is officially my most favourite team ever since.
In May, I watched two shows by Team K3 (12 and 19
May). Both were Boku no Taiyou (My Sunshine) setlist. I couldn’t decide whether
this setlist or Pajama Drive that I liked more.
I’ve been following JKT48 Fandom for four months. I
think I understand this fandom better. I used to think wota are delusional alay teenagers;
even until now that thoughts are on my friends’ mind. But now I know that
decent wota do exist; both male and
female. Some work in good corporate, some work for the ministry, and some other
work for themselves in creative industry. I never thought I would find a smart
young lecturer as a wota.
While jomlo (single)
wota become the majority, couple and
family wota are there in this fandom.
I’ve ever seen a family with two children dressed nicely only to watch JKT48 in
theatre. The dad was even an MVP that night. Well, I need to tell you that they
are Japanese. Idoling is more common in Japan than here in Indonesia.
So, what's so special about JKT48? I can't ignore the fact that they have good looking members. But that's not enough to create such a hardcore and loyal fandom. I think their strong point is their "idols you can meet" concept. JKT48 have many ways to keep in touch with their fans. I have told you about Handshake Festival and their almost-everyday show in their theatre. Fans can meet them on a regular basis and interact with them. They have many activities involving fans, like doing charity or playing sport together. This creates sense of togetherness (and belonging) between members and fans.
When I write this, Team J have new setlist which is Theatre no Megami (The Goddess of
Theatre). Soon, Team K3 will also start Saishuu
Bell ga Naru (The Last Bell Rings) as their new setlist. I don’t know
whether I will continue watching their performances.
It was started with #HowNotToBeBoring project. It was
meant to be one single show in January. But now it’s June and I already watched
nine shows (plus two more shows if I win the tickets for next week). Looking
back, I can say that I reached my goal for this one project. I didn’t allow
myself get bored because I always had something I looked for. I learned new
things. And you know, this project brought me to bigger 48Fandom: AKB48 FANDOM.
